I live in an Arlington with sidewalks that is also near the W&OD. People are out walking all the time. I sometimes walk with my toddler in a stroller or on my own while listening to a podcast. Sometimes I just do a lap around the walk to stretch my legs during the workday. I see plenty of other walkers without dogs.

what the heck. if you want to go for a walk go for a walk. i just got back from a one mile walk.

I walk without a dog every day around my neighborhood (not for exercise, just because I enjoy walking). Sometimes I listen to music or podcasts while I walk, often I just walk.

I have noticed on my walks that almost every other walker does have a dog but there are definitely a few like me who are without dogs and are just out walking, not dressed for exercise/not power walking.

Anonymous wrote:What are you on about? We walk everyday at least 3 miles. We see many other people walking without dogs while walking. Where do you live?!

Midlothian, VA

I used to feel this way - like the only people walking for exercise were considered weirdos. But in my area Covid really changed that and made walking emptyhanded a totally normal thing!

I think you are just missing your dog. I see people all the time walking without dogs. A lot of people have dogs in this area. What I'd like to see is people going on walks without looking at their phone.

What are you on about? We walk everyday at least 3 miles. We see many other people walking without dogs while walking. Where do you live?!

Because I can’t walk anywhere without a d*mn dog jumping on me.

I mostly walk without my dog, in fact I prefer it!

Going on walks is far more a European tendency than American one, for sure. I'm European and I walk my 3 miles every day, dog or no.

You do not need a dog to exercise or to just take a walk. I live off the millennium trail and I frequently see people walking without a dog.

Unfortunately, because you recently lost a dog, you are seeing what your mind is training you to see. You miss your dog and so you're noticing all of the dogs.

You're not paying attention. I live in a highly unwalkable city but I see at least 15-20 people daily out walking without dogs in my neighborhood. Just out for a walk-sometimes with a friend but a lot alone.

Just go for a walk if you want to.

I see people walking in my neighborhood without dogs, but they’re often retirees (often couples). I see people my age walking without dogs too but they’re usually on what looks like a work call with AirPods. I walk with my dog and tbh I am so sick of walking the same neighborhood streets a dozen plus times a week that I wouldn’t want to walk an extra walk without him unless it was a different neighborhood to explore.

Where r u getting your info. OP?

Anonymous wrote:
In the several Bethesda neighborhoods I walk in, I see LOTS of people walking sans canine.

Same. I walk several days a week, either in the neighborhood or on the Crescent Trail. Now that it's light later I mostly do the Crescent Trail.

For me at least it was Covid that changed it. Our dog died early in 2020 but I was so desperate to get out of the house I kept walking anyway. There were tons of walkers then, and I think a lot of people, without dogs, have kept it up.